Vol. 536 No. 4
182 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when one parent family allowance payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14351/01]
A claim for one parent family payment was received from the person concerned on 16 April 2001. Her circumstances are being examined by a local officer of the Department. As soon as the necessary inquiries are completed, a decision will be made on the claim and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
The person concerned is in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance at the rate of £110.40 per week, while awaiting the outcome of her one-parent family payment application.
Under social welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
183 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will consider providing a respite care payment to agents of those on disability allowance, as is the case for carers on a domiciliary allowance and a carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14424/01]
The carer's allowance is a means tested payment for carers on low income who look after people in need of full-time care and attention.
From June 1999 all persons in receipt of carer's allowance receive an annual respite care grant. In Budget 2001 I made provision for an increase in the amount of the grant from £300 to £400 from June this year. Carers who are caring for more than one care recipient will be entitled to a double respite care grant, that is, £800. These arrangements include carers who receive a carer's allowance in respect of recipients of a domiciliary care allowance or a disability allowance. It is open to an agent of a person on any social welfare payment to apply for a carer's allowance where he-she is providing full time care and attention.
184 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person in receipt of social welfare payment can rent out part of his home and qualify for the new £6,000 tax credit given to taxpayers; if this income will be counted in calculating their payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14433/01]
The responsibility for the allocation of tax exemptions lies with my colleague, the Minister for Finance. I understand however, that receipt of a payment from my Department would not affect an individual's right to claim the £6,000 tax exemption. Regarding the assessment of such income for social welfare purposes, the various weekly social welfare payments can be broadly divided into two main categories – social insurance payments and means-tested social assistance payments. As social insurance payments are not subject to a means test, any income a claimant may have, including income from renting out a room, would not affect their entitlement to payment. In the case of the social assistance payments, the situation differs between payments. In the case of the old age and widow-er's, non-contributory, pension schemes, any income received in respect of rent from a person who lives with the pensioner is disregarded for means test purposes where, apart from that person, the pensioner lives alone. In the case of an old age pensioner couple, only half of any income which they have is assessed for means test purposes.
In the case of the carer's allowance scheme a single claimant can have weekly income of up to £125 disregarded for means test purposes, while a couple can have up to £250 disregarded. Any further changes in the means-testing arrangements in relation to the assessment of rental income for those claimants not covered by the above disregards would have cost implications and would therefore, have to be considered in a budgetary context.
